Begging

Walking out of Bookmans the other night, we made our way to the car between the pillar posts.

Out of the shadows, we were unexpectedly approached by woman for "just a dollar! or anything you have... or perhaps you would like to buy some jewelry that I made? Please - I am not normally a beggar but I need..."  She went on.

Neither of us had our wallets on us and we were pressed for time to get to our next appointment.  No, sorry, not tonight. We whispered to ourselves, "...does she really 'need' that? what will she 'really' do with the money? oh, there are so many people who are hungry and needing money - we can't give all our money away..."

But words of the Sermon on the Mount haunted me. Once in my car, I dug into my wallet and I did, in fact, have one one-dollar bill.  I don't normally carry cash, but there it was. "God bless you," I told her later.



Matthew 5:42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. 

How do you respond to street beggars?

Sermon the Mount: Reflections on Reading Habit

The Sermon On The Mount - image by Piero di Cosimo

About a month ago, a clergy friend of mine invited me to join her in reading the Sermon On The Mount, every day, for the next year.  I decided to start on September 1.

I wish that I could say that I've read it every day without fail, but I can't.  I've missed a few days here and there.  So I invited my family to help me remember to read it and have set a copy (NRSV) by my bedside so that I can easily spend the 8-10 minutes with it before sleeping, if I only remember at the extreme close of the day.

A few friends have joined a face book group to read with me, and some have posted questions or remarks about what is transforming them to date.  I am inspired to get The Message out and read that version as well as the NIV version.

It's working on me. It's transforming me.

Stay tuned for topical reflections and thanks for joining me on this journey!